A 38-year old woman, Amarachukwu  Nzekwe, is being detained by the police command in Anambra State over alleged abuse and molestation of a 13-year old boy.

Mars Nzekwe, a nurse, is alleged to have burnt the child, her nephew, with a heated laundry iron following accusation of stealing.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ify Obinabo, told journalists in Awka that officials of the ministry handed the woman over to the police.

Mrs Obinabo said that the attention of the ministry was drawn to a viral social media video of the incident on August 18.

She said, “Officials of the ministry swung into action knowing Governor Charles Soludo’s zero tolerance posture on child abuse. We went in search of the alleged child abuser, found her and handed her over to the police for further investigation,”

The commissioner said the alleged abuser, an indigene of Ezinifite in the Aguata Local Government Area, would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were concluded.

She expressed worry over the injury inflicted on the 13-year old boy, and described it as barbaric and unfair.

“We shall follow the matter to the end. Justice must be done so that it will act as a deterrent to others who may want to indulge in similar acts,” she said.

(NAN)